Vehicle leveling shock absorber assembly

Abstract

An improved shock absorbing and leveling system for vehicles or the like is disclosed and includes a shock absorber sub-assembly and an airspring sub-assembly that can be used as either an assist device for a primary spring or as a primary spring itself. The preferred airspring sub-assembly includes a relatively rigid chamber member and a rolling flexible diaphragm member sealingly interconnected to one another, with an electrical inductance height sensor surrounding the shock absorber and contained substantially wholly within the chamber member. The airspring sub-assembly also preferably includes a diaphragm support member that laterally supports the diaphragm member on the shock absorber housing in a laterally spaced-apart relationship at least at two longitudinal positions thereon. Advantageously, the shock absorber sub-assembly and the airspring sub-assembly are independently removable from one another and replaceable as separate sub-assemblies.

We claim: 
     
       1. A fluid adjustable shock absorber assembly comprising: a shock absorber having an elongated housing, a piston slidably movable within said housing, and a piston rod attached to said piston and extending laterally outwardly from one end of said housing for longitudinal movement relative to said housing;   a generally hollow and relatively rigid dirt shield generally surrounding at least a portion of said shock absorber and being removably and sealingly interconnected with a longitudinally outer end of said piston rod;   a flexible diaphragm member sealingly interconnected with both said dirt shield and said housing in order to at least in part define a variable-volume pressurizable fluid chamber therewith;   a generally tubular diaphragm support member for laterally supporting at least a portion of said diaphragm member in a laterally spaced-apart relationship with said housing at least at longitudinally spaced-apart first and second longitudinal positions thereon;   a support ring fixedly attached to said housing at said second position thereon;   a plurality of pin members operable to be inserted through said flexible diaphragm support member and into said support ring so as to removably attach said flexible diaphragm support member to said support ring; and   a generally cup-shaped cap member having an opening extending longitudinally therethrough for receiving said piston rod, said cap member being fixedly attached to said housing at said first longitudinal position with a portion of said housing extending into said cap member, said diaphragm support member being removably attached to and laterally supported by said cap member at said first longitudinal position on said housing;   whereby said flexible diaphragm member can be removably attached to said generally tubular diaphragm support member so as to permit said shock absorber to be selectively disconnected from said dirt shield.   
     
     
       2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein said diaphragm member is removably interconnected with said piston rod in order to allow said diaphragm member and said diaphragm support member to be removed as a sub-assembly from said shock absorber. 
     
     
       3. The invention according to claim 1, wherein said cap member includes a coating of elastomeric material on at least a laterally outward portion thereof, said diaphragm support member being removably engaged and laterally supported by said elastomeric material when said diaphragm support member is installed on said shock absorber. 
     
     
       4. The invention according to claim 1, wherein said supporting ring includes a flange portion extending laterally outwardly therefrom, said flange portion longitudinally supporting said diaphragm support member when said diaphragm support member is installed on said shock absorber. 
     
     
       5. The invention according to claim 4, further comprising sealing member sealingly interposed between said diaphragm support member and said supporting ring. 
     
     
       6. The invention according to claim 5, wherein said cap member includes a coating of elastomeric material on at least a laterally outward portion thereof, said diaphragm support member being removably engaged and laterally supported by said elastomeric material when said diaphragm support member is installed on said shock absorber. 
     
     
       7. The invention according to claim 6, wherein said diaphragm support member is removably attached to and longitudinally supported by said supporting ring at said second longitudinal position on said housing. 
     
     
       8. The invention according to claim 1, wherein said dirt shield is spaced laterally outwardly relative to said shock absorber and said diaphragm support member, said diaphragm member being sealingly attached to said dirt shield so that said dirt shield and said diaphragm member define said pressurized fluid chamber with said shock absorber and said diaphragm support member. 
     
     
       9. The invention according to claim 8, wherein said dirt shield, said diaphragm member and said diaphragm support member are removable as a sub-assembly from said shock absorber.